LONDON (ShareCast) - Companies releasing results on Friday include FTSE 250 HellermannTyton with interim numbers. The fastening and cables group showed strong first-quarter trading versus weak comparatives, driven in particular by Asian and EMEA markets.

Broker Peel Hunt see risk to the upside. It is looking for first half (H1) pre-tax profits of €40m, which is consistent with an H1/H2 revenue split of around 48/52 and is in line with historic trends.

"HellermannTyton has leading positions in markets with long-term structural growth characteristics. The attractive margins should be sustainable, thanks to high barriers to entry, and there is scope for further progression with greater scale."

Smallcap stocks Henry Boot and AGA Rangemaster are also due to unveil numbers.

Broker Numis expects Boot to announce an operating performance in line with expectations, as the group continues to benefit from land sales to national housebuilders.

"However, it can be difficult to reach a full year conclusion from interim numbers due to the umpy nature of land disposals (e.g. a number of disposals budgeted for 2014 were completed late in December 2013) and we therefore believe that management's outlook for the full year is of particular importance."

As for AGA, "solid progress on last year" is expected, with tentative forecasts of first half PBT of £2.3m underpinned by some operational gearing on the incremental year-on-year sales.

"Given the encouraging mortgage approval backdrop and significant new product pipeline, including the launch of the AGA City60 today, Dual Control gas and Rangemaster 60, we remain comfortable with our FY forecasts and remain positive."

Oliver Haill

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